Shiseido Discovers "Ring CollagenTM" That Maintains Facial Shape Through Tension ~Reproduces Skin's Power Three-Dimensionally, Develops "Digital Skin RealityTM"~

Shiseido Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Shiseido), in joint research with Professor Kyoichi Matsuzaki, Chief of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the International University of Health and Welfare, Jichi Medical University, and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, has discovered that the skin on the face possesses a characteristic ring-shaped collagen structure called "Ring CollagenTM." This structure generates tension in the skin, thereby maintaining a face shape free from sagging.

Based on this knowledge, Shiseido has clarified that applying moderate physical stimulation to the skin can lead to the improvement of Ring CollagenTM structure, which becomes disordered with age, and the reduction of sagging. Furthermore, they have found that rosehip extract and "benibana" (safflower) derived extract may improve the structure of Ring CollagenTM.

In this research, Shiseido developed "Digital Skin RealityTM," a technology that visualizes the forces generated by the skin for the first time in the world and reproduces them three-dimensionally. This new technology has elucidated the mechanism of tension that maintains facial shape.

Part of this research was presented at the "32nd International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Congress London (September 2022)" and was selected for the top 10. A keynote speech was also delivered at the same congress.

Figure 1: Mechanism by which Ring CollagenTM maintains facial shape (1. Contractile force is generated in the rings, 2. Tension is generated as these rings pull on each other, 3. A force that envelops the face is created)

《Research Background》

Sagging, where skin droops due to "gravity," becomes a major concern with aging. Shiseido, as a pioneer in sagging research, has established a research foundation including definitions and evaluation methods for sagging, and has developed technologies to visualize the interior of sagging skin, thereby clarifying the causes of skin sagging due to gravity. This time, the research team tackled the elucidation of a more fundamental cause of sagging.

Young skin is firm and taut. When this skin-tightening force, or "tension," is lost with age, the skin loosens and droops due to gravity, leading to sagging. Therefore, the research proceeded with the hypothesis that the more fundamental cause of sagging lies in the loss of tension with age.

《Ring CollagenTM Generates Tension in the Skin》

Young facial skin, full of tension, quickly contracts when cut out (Figure 2). By analyzing the process of facial skin contraction after being cut out using the newly developed "Digital Skin RealityTM," it was shown that the force causing skin contraction is strongly generated in specific areas within the skin (Figure 3). Collagen was also found to exist in a ring shape in these areas. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that in the actual face, individual rings contract and pull on each other, generating tension throughout the skin (Figure 1), and this tension envelops the face, thereby maintaining facial shape.

Figure 2: Analysis of the skin contraction process

Figure 3: Ring-shaped collagen structure that generates skin contraction force (Left: Areas where strong ring-shaped forces are generated when facial skin contracts exist (white circles). Right: Collagen exists in the ring-shaped areas (red circles).)

《Structural Changes in Ring CollagenTM and Sagging Due to Aging》

Ring CollagenTM was confirmed to exist around proteoglycans (highly cushioning substances also found in joints), which surround vellus hair and sebaceous glands. It was also confirmed that the structure of Ring CollagenTM becomes disordered as proteoglycans decrease with age (Figure 4). Furthermore, it was shown that the deterioration of Ring CollagenTM leads to reduced tension and sagging.

Figure 4: Changes in Ring CollagenTM with age (Horizontal cross-section of facial skin. The clear Ring CollagenTM shape observed in young individuals (red circles) was not observed in the skin of older individuals.)

《Physical Stimulation and Plant Extracts Contribute to Improving Ring CollagenTM Structure》

To improve Ring CollagenTM structure, which becomes disordered with age, various stimuli were applied to cultured skin. It was confirmed that applying moderate physical stimulation (stretching in all directions) to the skin increases the proteoglycans that fill the interior of Ring CollagenTM (Figure 5). Furthermore, it was shown that this stimulation leads to improvements in Ring CollagenTM structure and sagging. Additionally, rosehip extract and "benibana" (safflower) derived extract were found to promote the gene expression of proteoglycans.

Figure 5: Increase in proteoglycans due to physical stimulation (stretching in all directions) of the skin

《New Technology "Digital Skin RealityTM" Unravels the Reality of Tension》

The key to unraveling the reality of tension was a new technology that visualizes the forces generated by the skin using AI. By setting a high-density observation points within the skin and tracking how each point moved when the skin contracted, the analysis of the generated forces was realized.

Furthermore, by combining naked-eye stereoscopic display technology* and a high-speed data processing system, the analysis results were reproduced three-dimensionally, enabling analysis in space as moving digital skin before the observer's eyes (Figure 6). This allows for an intuitive understanding of the complex skin structure and the forces generated within it.

The scope of skin visualization has been expanded from visible phenomena (four-dimensional movement of the skin) to invisible phenomena (forces generated by the skin), and from the monitor screen to three-dimensional space.

* Naked-eye stereoscopic display technology is a technology that displays images stereoscopically (3D) without the need for devices such as special glasses.

Figure 6: "Digital Skin RealityTM" displays the intensity of forces generated in deformed skin using color. (Image showing what the observer sees)

《About R&D Strategy》

Shiseido, under its R&D philosophy "DYNAMIC HARMONY" as an approach to accelerate innovation, has established three pillars: "Skin Beauty Innovation: Enhancing Brand Value," "Sustainability Innovation: Creating Circular Value," and "Future Beauty Innovation: Challenging New Frontiers." Shiseido also promotes open innovation and advances new value creation through research alliances with various external organizations. The innovative research results, born from the fusion of Shiseido's advanced science with the knowledge and technology of world-class research institutions, are highly acclaimed academically globally, including at the IFSCC, the world's most prestigious research presentation for cosmetic technology.

About R&D Philosophy "DYNAMIC HARMONY"

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/rd/dynamicharmony/?rt_pr=trv22

《Reference Information》

Organic "Rosehip" from Europe "Mogami Benibana" produced in Yamagata Prefecture

Shiseido has led sagging research for a quarter of a century, establishing a research foundation including the definition and evaluation methods of sagging, which had not been previously established. They have also developed advanced analytical methods using AI to "visualize" the interior of the skin for age-related facial shape changes such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and distorted face lines, and have elucidated the phenomena and their causes. Now, ahead of the world, they have identified the fundamental cause of sagging by analyzing "tension" within the skin, which had previously been unelucidated.

Shiseido's sagging research is evolving to the next generation, accelerating the creation of new value that addresses consumers' aging concerns as "Anti-Sagging Science V."

<Press Releases>

・ Shiseido Discovers Skin Structure Supporting Facial Shape for the First Time in the World (2015)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/archive/00000000001927/1927_w4y67_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Discovers that Cavitation in the Dermis with Age Leads to Facial Sagging (2015)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/releimg/2512-j.pdf?rt_pr=tr437?rt_pr=trv22

・ Mechanism of Dermal Cavitation with Age Elucidated (2016)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/1958_c8k91_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Discovers "Fibroblast Network" Woven by Dermal Cells (2020)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/2898_m8o89_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Discovers "Dynamic BeltTM," the Anti-Gravity System of the Skin (2022)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/3506_q6u56_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Stretching along the Anti-Gravity System "Dynamic Belt" is Effective for Activating Arrector Pili Muscles, a Key to Sagging Improvement (2023)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/3621_j1z62_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Develops New AI-Powered Skin Analysis Technology "Digital 3D SkinTM" (2020)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/2897_n7c87_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Develops Electronic SkinTM "4D Digital SkinTM" that Reproduces Movement (2021)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/3257_q7r26_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

・ Shiseido Discovers an 8.1-Year Gap Between Self-Perception of Sagging and Reality (2023)

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/newsimg/3673_v3v67_jp.pdf?rt_pr=trv22

▼ Shiseido's Sagging Research Technology

https://corp.shiseido.com/beautytechnologylab/jp/sagging/?rt_pr=trv22

▼ News Release

https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/news/detail.html?n=00000000004194&rt_pr=trv22

▼ Shiseido Corporate Information

https://corp.shiseido.com/?rt_pr=trv22